Medication Vs Nightmares

[Ocean5]

Trazadone causes wicked nightmares- taken together, you will never know the benefit of Prazosin.

That's what I was thinking. I need to isolate and just try Prazosin alone.

Problem is my nightmares have been "wicked" since I was at least in college.. (for the ones I remember..).before that don't remember much...

blocks the adrenaline.

That's what I need - a decrease in body's reaction. I wake-up total flight/fright response.

 

[joeylittle]

Problem is my nightmares have been "wicked" since I was at least in college..

Me too, and trazadone actually made them worse - which I did not think was possible. Seriously, it is one tough drug.

 

[Trace911]

I know what you mean @Ocean5 - I had nightmares and night terrors for years before I heard about prazosin. I was on five different medications at once, just to try and get a couple hours sleep. And the dreams were awful! I often had to change pajamas or bedsheets a few times a night because they were soaked in sweat.Now, as I said, the dreams still come but with just prazosin and clonazepam, I get 2-4hrs decent sleep, and the nightmares are far more bearable, even during my worst relapses. And I don't have to do as much laundry!

 

[Ocean5]

1st time Trazadone didn't help me, and had side effects. Dizzzzy just to walk to bed, but no sleep. Doc had me get off it.

Then tried again several months later, and it helped me to sleep without those side effects (slept all night - WOW!) Not sure anymore. Under so much stress.

Anyone else have these issue - sometimes medicines work great - sometimes they don't? Or work fine one day - then knock you down next day? (clonazepam)

@Trace911 Can I ask what dosage helped you? I was taking clonazepam in afternoon for anxiety, but it started to make me so tired some days I stopped - other days it helped so much. I was going to try taking it again, but later in day.

 

[Trace911]

Personally, I don't touch Trazadone unless I need to knock myself unconscious for a few hours of actual sleep, then I take 100mg. But I know the next morning I'll be useless.
Clonazepam- I take 1mg in AM, 1mg at bedtime ( or what I hope will be close to when I fall asleep). From what I understand, that's a higher end dose. I will also take one mid day if I feel the symptoms of acute anxiety, increased heart rate, and violent impulse. It keeps me able to focus and exercise control. Ordinarily, I wouldn't have issues with violent tendencies, but when things get bad I have no other way to let out the adrenaline.
The real miracle for me was Prazosin. When the nightmares come, I don't remember them as clearly, and I'm able to settle shortly after waking. I might have to change my nightshirt due to sweat, and sometimes I throw up, but mentally I can calm my mind. This allows me to go back to sleep –something I could never do before.
The trick with Prazosin is that you can only take it at night. It will drop your blood pressure so strongly that you won't be able to walk around without extreme dizziness, or possibly falling. It drops your blood pressure in a major way. But that's the point, it blocks adrenaline.

 

[joeylittle]

@Trace911, how long does the prazosin normally last on you? I'm trying to figure out if my dose needs adjusting.

 

[Trace911]

My dose is 5-15mg per night as required. I've rarely taken the full 15, but 10 is for hard days, 5 for average days, there are many nights where I take 1 at 10pm, another at 0100-0200hrs. It's subjective. And you need a solid Dr you can trust has your back. (Thanks Roy)

 

[Ocean5]

Thanks Trace

Prazosin

It will drop your blood pressure so strongly that you won't be able to walk around without extreme dizziness, or possibly falling. It drops your blood pressure in a major way. But that's the point, it blocks adrenaline.

My doctor warned me about this, and gave instructions when you wake-up sit up in bed for awhile before walking. Yet it never had this affect on me. But maybe that's cause I also have prehypertension and sometimes high blood pressure (it was high then.)

Was also on initial dose of 2mg. She said I would most likely need 10mg a night, but I needed to step-up dosage over several weeks/months (uhhhhh!) Is that because of side effects?

I was taking 2 mg for 2 weeks before I stopped. I thought it was making my mornings worse and rapid heart beat. But I'm so messed up past 6 months who knows anymore.....

Clonazepam did help to be able to function. It was like coming out of a thunderstorm. But then a trigger - went from .25 mg to .5 in afternoon. That wiped me out and made things worse. Then even .25 mg made me so tired.

 

[Trace911]

Prazosin shouldn't give you a sense of rapid heart beat, since it's an alpha blocker, which actually slows things down. It inhibits heart rate acceleration, that's why you have to change positions slowly. I don't have much trouble with 10-15mg, as my stress shows up as hypertension. The last time I had to go to the ER for sleep deprivation and suicidal thoughts, my BP was 224/168. On my best days, it still averages around 140/100.

I take 1mg of Clonazepam in AM, one at bedtime, and half a mg at times of acute stress. I've never had issues with drowsiness, but my Dr thinks that is because my hypervigilance is so intense.
It sounds to me like you need to talk to your Dr about taking the clonazepam on an as needed basis, rather than regularly. Or Ativan might be a better option for you.

 

[Trace911]

Forgot to say that if you were taking Prazosin at 2 mg and feeling rapid heart rate etc, you probably needed to up the dose rather than discontinue.
I never had to step up the dose slowly- I took 5mg for first week, went to 10 when that wasn't enough. A few days, I needed 15, but I knew that I'd need to stay horizontal or I'd pass out. Prazosin is very strong, and can drop your BP dangerously low. Things aren't too bad right now, and I'm at 7.5.
I can function, focus, and even socialize a little, but I'm not permitted to work.

 

[Ocean5]

@Trace911 Thanks

My body's reaction changes so much, or maybe it's just the level of stress/ body's anxiety. But I also realized psychogenic fever is back (low grade.) That would have caused my body to react differently to Clonazepam on different days.

Going to try Prazosin again.

I can't believe I'm posting so much about myself online....

 

[Ocean5]

Saw psychiatrist. Told to start taking Clonazepam at bedtime, and continue taking in afternoon (or as needed). Rather glad since I think Clonazepam will help a lot with sleep. When I stopped Trazadone, and just had Clonazepam in evenings I slept better.

She didn't want me to try Prazosin again right now since I'm sensitive to medicine, and start Zoloft tomorrow.